Peach tree

ABSTRACT

A peach tree, denominated &#34;July Sun&#34;, of very vigorous growth producing very large freestone fruit having a bright red to a bright yellow coloration ripening after the July Lady Peach Tree about the twentieth of July.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peachtree, denominated "July Sun", broadly characterized by its very vigorousgrowth producing very large freestone fruit and more particularly tosuch a peach tree wherein the fruit is of a bright red to bright yellowcolor having firm flesh of a bright yellow color with a very slight rimof red around the pit cavity and very good flavor and aroma and ripeningabout the twentieth of July in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

There is generally a direct relationship between the size of tree fruitand its commercial value. However, it is frequently the case that thereis an inverse relationship between the size of the tree fruit and thequantity of the fruit grown. This is true in the case of peach trees asit is in the case of other tree fruit. In addition, tree fruit of largersize is often more difficult to handle and ship because of asusceptibility to bruising of the fruit as a result of delicate skin andflesh. Still further, there is a general tendency for varieties of peachtrees which produce larger size fruit to produce fruit which is lessbrightly colored than varieties of smaller size. The fruit of thepresent invention is distinct in that it is of consistently large sizeeven when the crop is large, it has very firm flesh and tough skinaffording excellent handling and shipping characteristics, in brightlycolored and has very good flavor and aroma.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The instant new variety of peach tree was discovered by myself in 1976and is a newly found seedling of the July Lady peach tree. Seeds of theJuly Lady were planted in a plot in the nursery of H. P. Metzler & Sons,Inc. at 5286 South Del Rey Avenue, Del Rey, Calif. 93616 in 1974. Thefirst fruit of the present variety was observed in 1976 and itsdistinctive characteristics discovered at that time. The present varietywas asexually propagated under my direction at H. P. Metzler & Sons,Inc. in 1976 by grafting several seedlings with scions from the newlydiscovered seedling and then moving them to a test nursery on Ranch No.18 of H. P. Metzler & Sons, Inc. at Del Rey, Calif. Subsequently, moreseedlings were budded from the new variety and planted in the test plot.The seedlings of the new variety were observed in the nursery overseveral growing seasons and the fruit and tree characteristics resultingfrom such asexual reproduction proved to be identical to those of theoriginal seedling of the new variety.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The instant variety of peach tree is characterized by its quite vigorousgrowth consistently producing freestone fruit of very large size havinga bright red to bright yellow color, very firm flesh of a bright yellowcolor having very good flavor and aroma, a tight pit cavity bounded by avery slight rim of red and a tough skin which with its very firm fleshfacilitates handling and shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph of five mature fruit ofthe instant variety, one positioned to show the stem, a secondpositioned to show the apex, a third positioned to show the side, afourth sliced along the suture plane and the pit removed to expose thepit cavity and a fifth sliced along the suture plane with the pit leftin place. A representative twig is also shown in the photograph withcharacteristic leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of peach tree, the following characteristics wereobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing at the nursery of H.P. Metzler & Sons, Inc. at Del Rey, Fresno County, Calif. and is anoutlined description thereof. All major color code plate identificationsare by reference to the Color Name Chart of the Inter-Society ColorCouncil, National Bureau of Standards.

TREE

Size: Large size and very vigorous growth with a normal form subject tovariation by pruning methods.

Productivity: Very good.

Regularity of Bearing: Regular.

Trunk: Normal size with rough surface and normal color (62-d.g.y. Br.).

Branches: Normal size with rough surface of the same character as thetrunk, normal color (62-d.g.y. Br.) and small size lenticels 8-10 persquare inch.

Leaves: Normal size.

Length.--Average length from 6 inches [15.24 CM] to 7 inches [17.78 CM].

Width.--11/4 inches [3.175 CM].

Texture.--Smooth and almost waxy.

Shape.--Lanceolate with apex acuminate.

Margin.--Crenate.

Petiole.--About 1/2 inch [1.27 CM] in length and 1/16 inch [0.15875 CM]thick.

Glands.--Reniform and of small size, with two opposed at base of leaf;color, yellow green (146 d.g.).

Color.--Normal. Upper side (147 v.d.g.) and under side (146 d.g.).

Flower buds: Small, round and slightly elongated with stamen extendingfrom bud about 3/16 inch [0.47625 CM] while bud still closed.

Diameter.--1/4 inch [0.635 CM].

Length.--7/16 inch [1.11125 CM].

Flowers:

Date of bloom.--March 7th.

Size.--Medium, each petal 1/2 inch [1.27 CM] in length when open and5/16 inch [0.79375 CM] in width.

Color.--Outer edge of petal (2.S pink) and center of flower (4.1 pink).

FRUIT

Maturity: Reached in the San Joaquin Valley of California about July20th or after July Lady peach tree.

Size:

Very large.--With many of 31/2 inches [8.89 CM] to 4 inches [10.16 CM]in length. Diameter 23/4 inches [6.985 CM] to 4 inches [10.16 CM].Transverse dimension in suture plane 3 inches [7.62 CM] or slightlymore. Transverse dimension at right angles to suture plane 23/4 inches[6.985 CM] to 4 inches [10.16 CM].

Form: Uniform and symmetrical.

Suture.--Very smooth extending from the base to the apex 4 inches [10.16CM].

Ventril surface.--Rounded to slightly flat.

Stem cavity.--Rounded and 1/2 inch [1.27 CM] in depth, 3/4 inch [1.905CM] in width.

Apex.--Slightly flat to round.

Base.--Wide and flat.

Pistil point.--Almost receding.

Stem:

Size.--Length 5/16 inch [0.79375 CM] and Caliper 1/8 inch [0.3175 CM].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Strong, tough and tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Color.--Dark red (17 V deep red) to bright red (13 deep red) to strongyellow (83 Brill y).

Flesh:

Color.--Bright yellow (82 V yellow).

Surface of pit cavity.--Rough.

Color of pit cavity.--Red (11 V red).

Juice.--Very slightly acid taste.

Texture.--Smooth and very firm.

Fibers.--None.

Ripening.--Even.

Flavor.--Very good.

Aroma.--Good.

Eating quality.--Has crisp nature with very good flavor.

Stone:

Type.--Freestone.

Fibers.--None.

Size.--13/8 inches [3.4925 CM] in length and 11/8 inches [2.8575 CM] inwidth. Thickness, 3/4 inch [1.905 CM].

Shape.--Ovoid. Straight base, pointed apex. Sides equal with heavyridges that run generally from apex to base and are about 1/8 inch[0.3175 CM] in height.

Color.--Brown (43 m.r. Br.).

Splitting tendency.--None.

Use: Fresh market.

Keeping quality.--Good. Fruit has been kept in storage as long as fourweeks without noticeable deterioration.

Shipping quality.--Due to firm nature of flesh and tough skin, fruitships very well.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics as a result of the growing conditions in Fresno County,Calif., in the Central portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to beunderstood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristicsincident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control andother horticultural practices are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of peach tree, whatis claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. Anew and distinct variety of peach tree substantially as illustrated anddescribed and which is characterized by quite vigorous growth producingfreestone fruit of very large size, having a bright red to a brightyellow color, a tough skin, very firm flesh of bright yellow colorhaving very good flavor and aroma and a pit cavity bounded by a veryslight rim of red; and ripening about the twentieth of July.